Everett School Committee
Saturday February 17, 2024
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The order of items in transcripts appear in the chronological order in which they were taken up. Some Agenda items may have been skipped.
Agenda Item III.
At the beginning of the session, Lambert initiated the proceedings by asking for a motion to read the records and place them on file. This motion was seconded by Mister Lamonica. Following this, a vote was taken, with the majority voting in favor, leading to the approval of the motion to read and place the records on file.
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Agenda IV.
During a public comment session, Peggy Serino raised concerns about the conditions at the old high school in Everett, Massachusetts, citing safety hazards such as asbestos, rats, and a temporary boiler's high costs. She criticized the decision to potentially spend over $11,000,000 on a new roof, highlighting the poor decision-making regarding selling and then repurchasing the Devon School at a significant loss. Vincent Dixon, speaking on environmental issues, opposed the use of artificial turf in fields due to its potential health risks, including PFAS exposure and heat island effects, advocating for natural surfaces instead. Paula Sterite urged the school department to promote early voting for an upcoming primary election and criticized the replacement of natural grass with astroturf, pointing out the environmental and health hazards. Mary Fortin, calling attention to the unsuitability of the old high school due to mold and asbestos, especially for young children, warned of potential lawsuits due to respiratory illnesses.
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Agenda Item V.
The Everett High School theater company is set to compete in the Massachusetts Educational Theater Guild Festival with their show "Augusta and Noble." The Crimson Time Percussion Ensemble recently secured third place in a competition in Connecticut, marking a promising start to their season. Simultaneously, the Crimson Tide color guard won first place in their recent competition in Salem. The boys' basketball team is advancing to the state tournament with a commendable season record, while the girls' team completed their season with a notable improvement. Additionally, an 11th-grade student qualified for the state wrestling championships, and the hockey team ended their season with a few wins. The school is preparing for various upcoming events, including an athletic banquet, the start of spring sports, a vocal night concert showcasing a large group of student vocalists, and an awards ceremony where Mister O'Brien will be honored as Irish American Person of the Year. Finally, the Everett's Got Talent show is approaching, with prelims and final championships scheduled for mid-March.
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Agenda Item VI. 1.
The superintendent began by celebrating 11 students from Webster School for their academic achievements on the MCAS tests and praised a successful February Adventure Academy for K-5 students. Plans for another academy during April vacation were mentioned. Additionally, a family bi-literacy celebration aimed at enhancing family involvement in bilingual education was discussed, with various activities and resources to be offered. Anne Auger, Director of Curriculum, outlined the school's approach to utilizing Student Opportunity Act funds, focusing on evidence-based strategies to support education, particularly for the highest-needs students. The funding aims to address disparities, enhance academic supports and acceleration, improve early literacy, and expand pre-K programming among other priorities. The importance of community and family feedback in shaping these plans was emphasized, with various outreach efforts underway to gather a broad range of perspectives. Committee members inquired about the extent of community response and the specifics of data being used to inform these decisions, highlighting the importance of transparent and inclusive planning processes.
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Agenda Item VI. 2.
The section discusses a request to approve fund code 568 for a my cap grant amounting to $27,500, aimed at continuing the implementation of the my cap initiative at the 8th-grade level. My cap stands for my career and academic plan, indicating the fund is dedicated to career and academic planning for 8th graders.
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Agenda Item VI. 3.
The discussion centers on approving an education grant worth $81,000 to fund internships for Everett High School seniors. These seniors participate in a program that involves working alongside educators in K through 8 classrooms, receiving stipends for their contributions. Currently, the program has 13 enrolled seniors. A motion was made by Babcook to accept and approve the grant, which was seconded and subsequently passed, allowing for the continuation and support of this educational internship initiative.
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Agenda Item VI. 4.
The request for approval to hold a public hearing on Wednesday, March 13th at 7 PM at the high school, previously submitted to the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities by HART under Item 4, was withdrawn as the Department determined that the hearing was no longer required on that date. The requestor asked for the item to be referred back to their office for further handling.
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Agenda Item VII. 1.
Jonathan Frias, Energy Advocate for the city of Everett, presented an initiative called Electrify Everett during a public hearing, discussing a partnership aimed at promoting electrification measures and utility bill assistance with the goal of creating healthier homes and community spaces for over 8,000 residents, especially targeting those who have not received energy support before. The program focuses on low-income households, language-isolated populations, renters, and landlords of multifamily units. Partnerships include organizations such as Luma, Latinos Unidos, Massachusetts Everett Community Growers, and others, leveraging local community trusts. Frias highlighted the availability of no-cost home energy assessments by Revise, with subsequent access to a range of supports like weatherization, window replacement, and assistance with heating system transitions, welcoming all residents, renters, landlords, and businesses to participate. The discussion also covered the availability of the program in other communities, eligibility for repeated assessments, and financial assistance programs such as heat loans for transitioning to heat pumps. Questions from committee members inquired about program availability, eligibility, tenure, and how information about the initiatives could be broadly disseminated.
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Agenda Item VII. 2.
John Russolillo, the new Director of Youth Development and Enrichment for the City of Everett, addressed at a public hearing about his department's efforts since starting his role on January 8th. He spoke about enhancing collaboration with Everett Public Schools, focusing on enrichment programs, recreation, and workforce development for youth up to age 25. Efforts include a monthly collaboration with the school's extended learning manager, Heather, the introduction of career and recreational platforms After School HQ and MyRec, and a partnership for a workforce development summer program. The department is also looking forward to the first youth job fair with 185 youths and 30 employers participating. Russolillo highlighted recent successes, including a Black History Month event and collaborations for special needs programming, along with future plans like a sensory-friendly program and a greenhouse initiative. Briefly, Russolillo shared his background including his time at Babson College, volunteer work in Panama, and experience managing fitness and recreation centers. The discussion closed with a mention of an upcoming website launch for easier program signup and engagements from officials expressing excitement and gratitude for the inclusion and community-focused initiatives underway.
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Agenda Item VII. 3.
In a spirited discussion during the Everett School Committee meeting, Vice Chairperson Lambert proposed sending a letter to the Everett City Council advocating for the replacement of the artificial turf at Everett Stadium with natural grass, citing environmental concerns and health risks associated with artificial turf, such as heat and potential injury. Committee Chair Carlo DeMaria suggested directing the request to the mayor's office for efficiency and offered to share the city's environmental studies that support the use of artificial turf. Member Babcook, while recognizing the pros and cons of both surfaces, supported submitting the letter for consideration, highlighting personal anecdotes and health concerns. Committee member Joseph D'Onofrio emphasized the practical benefits of turf, like lower maintenance and consistent playability, while acknowledging the condition of current grass practice areas. Lambert pointed to successful organic grass management in other districts as a model for reducing maintenance costs and promoting community health. DeMaria promised to explore safer and newer turf materials that have emerged since the original stadium turf installation. Samantha Hurley, another committee member, suggested amending the letter to explore hybrid options besides just turf or grass. The committee agreed to send the amended letter to both the City Council and Administration for further consideration.
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Agenda Item VII. 4.
During a recent public hearing, concerns were voiced about the overcrowding situation in Everett Public Schools, highlighting the need for updates on renovation and expansion efforts. Board members Hurley and Cornillo discussed their recent tours of several schools, praising staff and students for their resourcefulness despite inadequate facilities, including repurposed utility closets and modular classrooms lacking essential amenities. The conversation underscored the urgency of addressing overcrowding, differing needs among schools, and the importance of seeking collaborative, concrete solutions. A motion was made to discuss possible actions in a forthcoming meeting, emphasizing the need for a detailed plan from the superintendent and potential city council involvement for long-term planning, including taking advantage of federal funding and net-zero building opportunities. The meeting concluded with an agreement to revisit the issue, stressing the importance of a coordinated response among the school committee, administration, and city council.
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Agenda Item VIII.
In Item 8 of the HART meeting, it was noted that there were no subcommittee reports to present.
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Agenda Item IX.
A motion was presented and supported to submit and pay bills and payrolls totaling $2,104,115.59, as announced by Lambert. Following the agreement, Lambert proceeded to the next agenda item, expressing gratitude for the decision made on the financial matter.
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Agenda Item X., XII., & XII.
The section of the HART meeting agenda covered indicates that there was no unfinished business, no new business to discuss, and no hearings scheduled, as highlighted in items 10 through 12.
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Agenda Item XIII. 1.
The session covered strategic discussions related to ongoing and potential litigation matters, as permitted under Massachusetts General Law chapter 30 section 21 paragraph three. This included deliberations on pending MCAD (Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination) actions, with the complainants' names being withheld, and other potential litigation scenarios. The chair declared that these discussions were necessary as holding them in an open meeting could negatively impact the public body's position in these legal matters.
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Agenda Item XIII. 2.
The discussion focused on addressing complaints or charges against a public officer, employee, staff member, or individual, specifically referencing Mass General Law, Chapter 30A, Section 21A, paragraph one. The complaints in question include three open meeting law cases filed by attorney Fried and Mr. Reidy. A motion was made to enter an executive session, with the clarification that no actions or votes would be taken during this time. Additionally, an update on these open meeting law complaints is scheduled for the next regular meeting on March 4th.
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Agenda Item XIV.
This portion of a public hearing includes an announcement to adjourn an executive session. Following this announcement, there's a request for Mr. Clark to call the role. A speaker named Lambert expresses gratitude, presumably for the session or the cooperation of the attendees.
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